When it became clear that Surtsey would
endure as a permanent island, a group of enthusiastic researchers got
together and founded a committee that later became a society whose aim
was to organize and promote research carried out there.

The by-laws of the society state that
the purpose of the society is that of promoting research in
the earth and biological sciences in connection with the island of Surtsey,
and in Iceland in general. The society itself does not carry
out the research but instead promotes and coordinates scientific studies
in the fields of earth sciences and biology.

The
Surtsey Research Society publishes reports
on the research carried out on the island. So far twelve such reports
have been issued. The Society has built research huts on the island
on two occasions and has organized the construction of a helicopter
landing platform. The Surtsey Research Society has received grants from
several foundations and is supported by the Icelandic government.

Processing of research data has been carried
out at several institutes, especially the Agricultural Research Institute,
the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, the Marine Research Institute
, the National Energy Authority and the Science Institute of the University
of Iceland. Until recently the National Land Survey of Iceland took
all aerial photographs of Surtsey, but this work is currently in the
hands of Loftmyndir Ltd.

The
Surtsey Research Society has maintained an office at the Icelandic Institute
of Natural History and is grateful for the Institute’s assistance
and hospitality.